Shaping a new security agenda in the Indian Ocean

Somalia is developing a new maritime policy that is shifting the focus away from piracy and more towards Somalia’s policy goals; regulating its maritime domain and building a blue economy.

Somalia’s efforts do not come without challenges, however. Issues of capacity for enforcement as well as political difficulties for the federal government in its relations with member states – several of which have their own maritime goals - still stand in the way of significant progress.

But there is much taking place behind the scenes, particularly in the area of legal frameworks. A new security agenda is being set, driven by Somalia but also part of a wider regional shift: naval operations are refocusing on a broader range of issues, at the same time as new countries are expanding their strategic presence in the region.

For operators in the Indian Ocean, this new agenda highlights the changing nature of maritime threats in the region - download this whitepaper now for a complete brief.